Moving to Spain: the 7 things you need to arrange after arrival
- Viva La Costa Blanca Services
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
You’ve just arrived in Spain. The sun is shining, everything feels new.. and at the same time, you might be thinking: “Where do I even start?” From paperwork to practical things, it can feel like a lot in the beginning. The good news is that you don’t have to figure everything out at once. If you take it step by step, the process becomes much clearer.
These are the 7 things you should arrange first when moving to Spain, especially if you’re settling in areas like the Costa Blanca, Dénia, Jávea, Moraira or Pego.
Step 1: Get your NIE number
Your NIE number is the foundation of almost everything you’ll do in Spain. Without it, you’ll quickly run into limitations when trying to arrange even the most basic things.
You need your NIE for situations like opening a bank account, signing contracts, buying property or starting work. It’s essentially your identification number within the Spanish system.
Step 2: Register your address (empadronamiento)
Once your NIE is sorted, the next step is registering your address at your local town hall. This is called the empadronamiento.
It officially connects you to your municipality and proves where you live. This registration is often required when arranging other important things in Spain, including your Residencia and access to local services. Read more about the empadronamiento in our blog.
Step 3: Apply for Residencia
If you’re planning to stay in Spain for more than three months, applying for Residencia is not optional, it’s required.
This is the step where your move becomes official. To complete your application, you’ll need a few key elements already in place, such as your NIE, your empadronamiento and proof that you can financially support yourself.
Step 4: Get a Digital Certificate
One step that many people overlook at first, but end up needing later, is the digital certificate.
With a digital certificate, you can handle a lot of administrative tasks online instead of dealing with appointments, paperwork and waiting times. It allows you to communicate directly with Spanish authorities and makes processes like applying for documents much more efficient.
Step 5: Register for healthcare in Spain
Healthcare is something you’ll want to arrange early, even if it’s not always the first thing people think about. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for public healthcare or you might need private health insurance. In many cases, especially when applying for Residencia, having healthcare arranged is part of the requirement.
Step 6: Open a Spanish bank account
Having a Spanish bank account makes daily life in Spain much smoother. It’s used for paying rent, setting up utilities and often required as part of your Residencia application. If you’re not working in Spain, you’ll usually need to show that you have sufficient funds in a Spanish IBAN account. This is something many expats run into when preparing their paperwork.
A practical option is opening an account online through BUENO. It allows you to get a Spanish IBAN without needing to visit a bank in person and supports multiple languages, which makes the process easier if you’re still getting used to everything.
Step 7: Start building your life in Spain
Once the administrative side is taken care of, you can start focusing on what really makes Spain feel like home. Building a routine, meeting new people and staying active all play a big role in settling in. Whether it’s joining local activities, exploring new places or connecting with other internationals, this is where your new life truly begins.
Final thoughts: take it step by step
Moving to Spain can feel overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. By following these steps in the right order, you create a clear path for yourself. Start with your NIE, build from there and gradually everything will fall into place.
Need help getting started moving to Spain?
If you prefer some guidance along the way, you don’t have to do everything on your own. At Viva La Costa Blanca, we support internationals with practical steps like arranging your NIE, applying for Residencia and setting up your Digital Certificate, so you can focus on building your life in Spain instead of getting stuck in the process.
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